Re-Examining Late Iron Age Pellet Mould Technology


Morley-Stone, Jake (2023) Re-Examining Late Iron Age Pellet Mould Technology. Doctor of Philosophy thesis, University of Liverpool.

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Abstract

Pellet moulds, characterized by ceramic trays with multiple depressions, are a prominent feature of Late Iron Age Britain. Traditionally, archaeological literature has linked them solely to coin production. However, this interpretation overlooks and oversimplifies the analytical investigation of pellet mould fragments, often funnelling them into a coin production narrative. This study challenges the established bias by investigating whether the metallurgical residues found within pellet mould fragments from Hertfordshire definitively link them to specific coin issues. Employing a multi-method approach, seven pellet mould assemblages from late Iron Age Hertfordshire were analysed using both petrographic and scanning electron microscopy analytical techniques. This allowed for a detailed characterization of the pellet mould fabrics and the residual metallurgy within the moulds. The analysis revealed complex and varied patterns in the residual metallurgy and allowed an informed discussion of the use of pellet mould technology, challenging the assumption that these moulds were solely used for coin production. While the metallurgical data may still be interpreted as potentially related to coin production using indirect evidence and reasoning, this thesis highlights the importance of re-evaluating established interpretations and maintaining our conclusions within the bounds of the data and its limitations.

Item Type: Thesis (Doctor of Philosophy)
Divisions: Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences
Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences > School of Histories, Languages and Cultures
Depositing User: Symplectic Admin
Date Deposited: 21 Jan 2025 10:46
Last Modified: 08 Feb 2025 03:09
DOI: 10.17638/03187959
Supervisors:
URI: https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3187959
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